3 Years at Automattic!
Posted by: Maya on: September 5, 2009
Today I’ve been with Automattic for 3 years, although it doesn’t seem that long at all. Maybe it’s because we’re virtual and I don’t see my co-workers very much but I’m sure it’s more like the “Time flies when you’re having fun” cliche. A lot has changed in the past year work-wise…. I’ve handed off duties and acquired new ones. I think it’s time for a new title, actually. Suggestions please. We’ve got several new employees. I’m so happy to have more females on the team. I think it helps to keep a good balance.
A few highlights for me:
- Attending WordCamp China
- Attending WordCamp Hong Kong
- Our successful WordCamp in May where we had 750 attendees.
- Meeting the team in Breckenridge, CO in October.
I looked forward to another fun-filled year and am certain I will learn so much more.
The White Glove and the Cute Tiger Cub
Posted by: Maya on: June 26, 2009
MJ thoughts and memories:
My dad brought home the Thriller album (vinyl of course) after work one day and my sister and I jumped up and down and screamed for joy for a good 10 minutes. I begged my parents to let me bring it to my Girl Scouts meeting that was later the same evening. They wouldn’t let me but I remember all my Girl Scout buddies being jealous of me. 
Almost all my birthday parties in my childhood were sleep overs in which our Thriller album was played over and over. This went well with the theme since my birthday’s on Halloween. I don’t think there was one Halloween where a mini MJ was not spotted trick-or-treating during those years.
I know all the words to his songs and the dance moves to Thriller. Please don’t ask me to prove that statement.
My sister and I had this poster in our shared bedroom growing up.
The janitor at my elementary school used to sell round pins with his picture on them during lunch time in the cafeteria, which sounds a bit creepy now that I’m thinking about it. We used to bring our piggy bank money in to buy them.
At our 5th grade graduation, there was a dance performance by one of the popular kids that included white glove and all.
Who hasn’ t done the moonwalk at least once?
WordCamps in Asia
Posted by: Maya on: March 6, 2009
- In: WordPress| china| hong kong| wordcamp
- 6 Comments
Breakin’ the law
Posted by: Maya on: January 29, 2009
As of January 1, 2009 texting while driving has been illegal in California. But what does that really mean?
Are you allowed to text while you’re at a dead standstill in traffic?
How about when you’re in a parked car with the engine running?
What about if you’re stopped at a red light?
This law does not prohibit reading, entering or selecting a phone number. How does law enforcement determine if you were texting or typing in a phone number?
Is sending e-mails from your blackberry or i-phone illegal?
If texting while driving is illegal, shouldn’t inputting directions into your GPS be also?
If you’re pulled over and charged the fine is only $20-$50. I still see people talking on their cell phones while driving all the time. This is such an important law but difficult to enforce. They might as well just make doing anything while driving illegal. But where do we draw the line? No putting on makeup, no talking on the phone, no talking at all!!!
Good Things
Posted by: Maya on: January 23, 2009
I was thinking about this on the drive home on the 101 last night. These are some awesome things that I’ve always liked or just discovered I like, in no particular order:
San Francisco: The Original One
Posted by: Maya on: January 16, 2009
WordCamp 2009 is on May 30th!!! This year promises to top the last. Please register and come out to learn, meet awesome people, get cool schwag and eat good food.
Slumdog Millionaire
Posted by: Maya on: December 24, 2008
We don’t get to go to the movies much anymore so when we do we try to make it worthwhile. I’ve been disappointed at the last few movies I’ve seen in a theater like Burn after Reading. I just did not get that whole thing. Brad Pitt acting like a moron for 2 hours – I don’t understand.
When I heard about the movie Slumdog Millionaire, I had to admit it sounded some like gangster movie with Mark Wahlberg or perhaps Al Pacino. After reading about it I was pretty eager to go see it even though I hadn’t read the book. What a refreshing movie. I loved that it showed that side of India, which many Americans don’t know about – the corruption, the mafia like culture, exploitation of children, etc. Yes, still in 2008. The way the whole movie was tied into an episode of the Indian version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” was creative and unique.
What people may not know is that Anil Kapoor is a Bollywood star. Bollywood movies are fun to watch and all contain one or more of these elements: dancing, romance, betrayal, long lost love, and just basically a lot of melodrama. I was happy to see them in this film where they could show a different kind of their acting skill.
The music in the film was M.I.A., one of my favorite artists, which suited the theme perfectly.
It’s nice to see good Indian actors in a movie about Indian people in India. I’m still a little disappointed when I remember Ben Kingsley and Amy Irving with dark makeup on their faces. There are so many stories and truths that need to be heard from India and many talented people there that can do it.
Boycott!
Posted by: Maya on: December 23, 2008
- In: boycott| fraud| identity| theft
- 2 Comments
Back in Beaufort South Carolina, I was the queen of boycotts. It all started when the local Wal-Mart lost my film and pictures from my friend Jenina’s wedding and didn’t seem to care about it. This kicked off my boycotting frenzy. I boycotted things from the hair salon at JCPenney to the Piggly Wiggly across the street. It wasn’t really that hard either. For those that know me and know Beaufort – you know what I mean.
So I’ve been in California for 5 years now and have managed not to boycott much, except for a certain Japanese restaurant, until now. Credit cards – I’m done with them. This year someone has stolen my credit card / debit card information 4 times. Susan Allen trying to open a website with my information this month was the last straw. It is a sad sad world when someone is so desperate they have to steal information. It’s one thing to steal food or medicine because your kids are hungry / sick, you live in a cardboard box and earn a dollar a week. That’s survival, but a website isn’t a staple of life. Obviously Susan must be a smart person if she is starting her own website right? Did she really think she could get a away with it and there would be $100 monthly website maintenance charge to my card without me noticing?
It’s hard because I want to teach my daughters that people are good and to be optimistic in general but want to protect them from the Susan Allens and Giang Doans of the world.
I’m through with credit cards and have closed mine for good. Maybe my next post will be about best places to hide your cash in your home.
Oh the irony
Posted by: Maya on: October 24, 2008
- In: fraud| identity| newegg.com| theft
- 3 Comments
I tried to make a legitimate purchase online with NewEgg.com. (see previous posts). They didn’t put the order through because the shipping address didn’t match the billing address. They tell me I have to call the credit card company and tell them I want to add that shipping address to my profile so they can process the order. After telling them I find that quite ridiculous and have never had to do that before I just have them ship it to the billing address. So after I receive it I can re-ship it to where I want it to go (you know in my free time.) It’s all for my own protection. I see.
The Twilight Zone
Posted by: Maya on: October 7, 2008
- In: fraud| identity| theft
- 3 Comments
Giang, is it you again? How have you been?
This time you’ve got my credit card.
Apple Online: I use a PC.
NetFlix: Can’t watch a 30 minute sitcom, let alone a whole movie. 2 babies under 2 can be quite distracting.
SCIStamps: Stamp collecting? *Yawn*
Diet Offer: Please.
My “Happy Blogging” resolution seems to be going downhill.
